Introduction... The Antichrist in The Bible Although the word "antichrist" is widely used today, there are only four verses in the entire Bible which expressly use the word, all of which are found in the epistles of John, who used the term to describe people who oppose and deny the true God.

Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:22 NASB)

and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. (1 John 4:3 NASB)

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. (2 John 1:7 NASB)

John told us that many antichrists existed at the time of his writing, and would continue to make their appearance. However, in the spirit of Jewish prophecy (See Typology), he also said that "antichrist is coming" (1 John 2:18), which implies that one antichrist will eventually make his appearance.

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. (1 John 2:18 NASB)

In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Paul called him "the man of lawlessness" and "the son of destruction", who would exalt himself to the point he would seat himself in the temple of God, and make himself out to be God.

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NASB)

While the term 'antichrist' is not used in the Old Testament, there is no doubt who the prophet Daniel was referring to when he spoke about an insolent "mighty king" who, under Satan's influence, would rise to power, deceiving and destroying.

After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. "While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts. (Daniel 7:7-8 NASB)

In the latter period of their rule, When the transgressors have run their course, A king will arise, Insolent and skilled in intrigue. "His power will be mighty, but not by his own power, And he will destroy to an extraordinary degree And prosper and perform his will; He will destroy mighty men and the holy people. "And through his shrewdness He will cause deceit to succeed by his influence; And he will magnify himself in his heart, and he will destroy many while they are at ease. He will even oppose the Prince of princes, But he will be broken without human agency. (Daniel 8:23-25 NASB)

Taken in conjunction, all these verses, gives us a more rounded portrait of one man who will not only rise to power and dominate and deceive much of the world at the close of our present age, but will also be worshipped by many, if not most, people who are alive at the time.

The ‘worshipping’ bit becomes considerably easier to believe if you bear in mind that much of the world is already anticipating a "savior', and will therefore probably welcome him with open arms when he makes his appearance.

Universal Expectation of a 'Saviour' Since the concept of a coming world teacher... a messiah, who sets up a golden age on earth can be found in many world religious systems, as well as in the literature of the occult It is easy to see how a charismatic leader who promises (and seems to deliver) utopia will be accepted nay, even welcomed, by much of the world ...

Judaism"Belief in the eventual coming of the mashiach is a basic and fundamental part of traditional Judaism... The term "mashiach" literally means "the anointed one," and refers to the ancient practice of anointing kings with oil when they took the throne.... The mashiach is the one who will be anointed as king in the End of Days. ...In general, it is believed that the mashiach will come in a time when he is most needed (because the world is so sinful), or in a time when he is most deserved (because the world is so good)”. [01]

BuddhismIn Buddhist tradition Maitreya, or the future Buddha, accepted by all schools of Buddhism, is presently a bodhisattva (an individual on the path to becoming a buddha) residing in the Tushita heaven, who will descend to earth to preach anew the dharma (law) when the teachings of Gautama Buddha have completely decayed. [02] The Tushita heaven being the residence of divine beings, reachable through meditation.

OccultismMany occultists look for the 'reappearance of the christ', a 'world teacher' who will introduce a 'golden age' on earth. In their words...

"Unrealized by the vast majority of human beings, the most important impending event on our little planet is the Externalization of the Spiritual Hierarchy of our planet and the Reappearance of the World Savior (the World Teacher, the Lord Maitreya, the Christ). These are two phases of one great divinely-intended intervention in planetary process, which will redeem humanity and set planet Earth more firmly on the road to sacredness". [03]

IslamIn Islamic eschatology the Imam Mahdi (the 12th Imam) is the prophesied redeemer of Islam who will return to establish peace and justice on earth. According to the Shiite version of Islam, this 12th descendant of Mohammed, went into hiding in 941, some 1300 years ago, and will reappear when the world has become full of oppression and tyranny. DETAILS

HinduismIn Hinduism, Kalki is the final incarnation of Vishnu foretold to appear at the end of Kali Yuga, the current epoch. The Bhagavata Purana, possibly composed between 750 and 1000 AD, is considered to be the purest and greatest of all ancient Hindu texts. It prophesies that the sword wielding Kalki astride a white horse, is the harbinger of the end time. He will usher in Satya Yuga (the era of truth, or the golden age).

The ascetic prince, Lord Kalki, the Lord of the Universe, will mount His swift white horse Devadatta and, sword in hand, travel over the earth exhibiting His eight mystic opulences and eight special qualities of Godhead. Displaying His unequaled effulgence and riding with great speed, He will kill by the millions those thieves who have dared dress as kings. —Bhagavata Purana, 12.2.19-20

ChristianityA great many professing Christians expect Jesus to return and set up a kingdom of peace and justice on the earth.

How Christians Can Be Deceived... The First Horseman of The ApocalypseBut is it possible that even Christians could be deceived by the antichrist? Sadly, the answer is yes, simply because the antichrist will not, at least initially, appear as sinister and easily recognizable (because of the fangs and horns perhaps), but will, very carefully, imitate Jesus Himself. Revelation 6:2 says

I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. (NASB)

Some believe the rider on the white horse to be Christ since, in a later chapter, the book of Revelation clearly portrays Jesus as riding a white horse.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. (Revelation 19:11 NASB)

However, the similarity begins and ends with the fact that both riders are astride similarly colored mounts. The rider in Revelation 19:11 is obviously none other than Jesus Christ who, in righteousness, dispenses justice. However, the rider in Revelation 6:2 is bent on conquest.

But why should a rider, other than Christ, also be portrayed on a white horse?

The Greek word Christos (Christ) means 'messiah' or 'anointed one', while the English 'antichrist' comes from the Greek antichristos (an-tee'-khris-tos). English speakers usually assume the word 'anti' means 'opposed to'. However, in Greek, the word can also mean 'instead of'. Therefore antichristos does not necessarily means someone who is against, or opposed to, Christ, but can mean 'instead of' Christ. In other words, the antichristos can be one who seeks to 'take the place of' Christ.... a clever counterfeit of God's Messiah, which is why he is seen as riding a horse the same colour as Christ's.

The very fact that peace is not taken from the earth until the second seal or the rider on the Red Horse, indicates that the rider on the white horse could be the world leader/world teacher/savior/redeemer, anticipated by much of the non believing world, who are looking for the one who, possibly by teaching us to live peacefully with each other, will introduce a 'golden age'.

The beginning of the end will not come with death and destruction but on the wings of peace... which will lull the global masses into a false sense of security.

The WarningsAlso remember that, when asked what would be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age, Jesus' first words were to caution believers not to be misled by false Christs which, obviously, has to include the most dangerous one of all... the antichrist.

As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. (Matthew 24:3-5 NASB)

If there was no possibility that Christians could be deceived, then it is hardly likely that Jesus would have issued the above warning. He also said "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him". (John 5:43 NASB)

We can be sure that, at least initially, the antichrist's message will not raise any red flags in the minds of many Christians.

Note: Way too many Christians are convinced that they are going to be gently whisked away to heaven in the Rapture and will not face any kind of persecution. This is far from the case. Why are we forgetting that Jesus spoke of a tremendous end time persecution for Christians …. [All Emphasis Added]

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. [Matthew 10: 21-22].

These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. "These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. [John 16:1-3]

What is of particular significance is that the Seven Seals (Revelation 6-7) exactly parallel the Olivet Discourse. In summary, both the Olivet Discourse and the Seals include, in the same sequence, both the events leading up to, and the actual tribulation of the church, followed by the wrath and judgment of God, or the Great Tribulation such as the world has never seen. The comfort western Christians have enjoyed for the last few generations will soon come to an end, and will find too many believers woefully unprepared. See The Seven Seals

Identifying The Anti ChristIn the words of Probe ministries

One of the favorite pass-times of date setters is to attempt to identify the Antichrist, a powerful figure who will appear immediately prior to Christ's return. This guessing game has a long tradition, going back to the time right after Jesus' death. The early church fathers Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Cyprian, and Augustine all believed that this person would be present immediately prior to Christ's return. During the Middle Ages, some churchmen identified the Antichrist as a Moslem, such as Saladin, but others pointed to a Jew, and some even pointed to the Pope. During the American Revolution it was popular to cast King George III in the role of Antichrist, but the Earl of Bute and British general John Burgoyne also got nominations.

Other familiar names to be included in this long list of suspected Antichrists are Napoleon, the British Parliament, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Joseph Stalin. Since World War II, the Pope still makes the list as does Jewish leader Moshe Dayan, the assassinated Egyptian leader Anwar el-Sadat, Spain's King Juan Carlos, and Korean cult leader Sun Myung Moon. For some, Mikhail Gorbachev and Saddam Hussein are naturals for the job....” (George Bush was added to this list)

....The striking number of attempts to identify the Antichrist and the significance of the number 666 should at least give us a sense of caution before adding another name to the list. Perhaps we should follow the example of Irenaus in the second century. Seeing the many efforts to identify the Antichrist in his day, he cautioned against the practice and believed that the name was deliberately concealed until it would be obvious in the day of the antichrist's arrival. [04]

Signs of The Times But while Jesus very clearly stated that no one could know the timing of his return, He also, using the analogy of a fig tree, told His disciples that certain events would indicate the nearness of His Second Coming.

Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.... But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. (Matthew 24:32-33, 36 NASB)

Echoing the thought, Paul told the church in Thessalonica that, because they were sons of light not darkness, "the day" should not catch them unawares ...

For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 NASB)

In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul described the sequence of events in slightly more detail. Hearing that the Thessalonians feared that they had missed the rapture, he wrote them explaining that certain events had to take place before the coming of the Lord and their gathering together to Him. In his words...

(3) Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, (4) who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (5) Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? (6) And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. (7) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. (8) Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8 NASB)

In other words, three things have to happen....

1. The great apostasy or falling away

2. The restrainer is taken out of the way

3. The man of sin/the rider on the white horse/the antichrist is revealed.

But here is what is terrifying. While we cannot be sure who the restrainer is and when he will be taken away, the falling away is already in full bloom, so the next step is the revealing of the antichrist, who is around the corner (followed by the persecution of the church).

Part II... The Imminent Arrival of the Antichrist The purpose of the following is to give the reader an inkling of the magnitude of the great darkness that is sweeping the world.

New Age BeliefsSadly almost every Christian that I know, or have ever heard of, thinks the end is coming, but sometime in the vague future. Much to the contrary, events are set to take a very nasty turn... not thirty or forty years away, but now, in our lifetimes. If you are below fifty, and manage not to be hit by a bus next week, it is more than likely that you will witness at least the beginning of the end of the age.

This is not date setting, but watching the times and seasons.

While topics such as the pre or post-tribulation rapture, the so called 'mark of the beast', the four horsemen of the apocalypse, and the various aspects of the antichrist find a wide audience in today's professing church, I have to wonder how many have actually bothered to go beyond academic discussion, and take a good hard look at the less than subtle events taking place in the world around them. And no, I am not talking about the usual blather about an increase in earthquakes, or wars and rumors of wars, since what Jesus actually said was NOT to be disturbed at these events.

What I am referring to is the fact that a movement has gradually been gathering momentum over the face of this earth, fueled by the unholy forces that oppose both God and man, shepherded by humans outside the church who have no comprehension of the dark forces they deal with and, of course, by an "evil and adulterous generation" inside the church who so blithely ignore the warnings from the God they profess to serve.

Occultists and many New Agers believe the present phase of human existence is one of transition, and there is a new age dawning. In recent years, more and more influential New Age thinkers have spoken about, and are working towards, a soon to come "Planetary Pentecost" (other buzz words include shift, awakening, transition, transformation, global or universal consciousness, rethinking, re-imagining and a New Earth), with the so called church echoing the terminology.

While they are wrong about the details, and will probably not like the final results very much, New Agers contend that Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius, Jesus, and many others were "Christs" but one, greater than all of them... the "Lord of the World", also known as Sanat Kumara, will soon come to usher in a New Age.

The problem is not that they believe that this world leader will show up in the near future, but that for the first time in history, hundreds of thousands of people all across the globe are actively....

Creating Ideal Conditions For The Reappearance of "the Christ"In the past few years, there has been an explosion of individuals and organizations (both large and small) who are actively working towards creating the conditions necessary for his return, when he will be accompanied by the "Masters of the Ancient Wisdom" (the Ascended Masters), alleged to be overseeing the spiritual and 'evolutionary' development of the human race on both an individual and global level.

In other words, hundreds of thousands of people around the world are actively promoting conditions necessary for the coming World Teacher.

This expansive idea is centered around the birth of a new world consciousness. It is believed that it will come to fruition when enough people are trained to implement The Plan and prepare for, what they commonly call, the "Reappearance of the Christ".

Except that this "Christ" has nothing to do with Jesus Christ of the Bible.

What is really chilling is the sheer number of organizations working towards the same goal, and the fact that few of these organizations seem to work in isolation, but are closely interconnected with many others.

Although the movement did not start with her, a woman called Alice Bailey, was very instrumental in the global spread of the movement. Along with her husband, she was a one time serious student of Theosophy, who wrote some 24 books, under the guidance of an ectoplasmic apparition from hell, who called himself Djwhal Khul (The Tibetan), who said he lived in a physical body, on the borders of Tibet.

Alice Bailey founded the Lucis Trust (formerly Lucifer Publishing Co.) which enjoys "Consultative Status" with the United Nations and has spawned several other organization... the Arcane School, Triangles, World Goodwill, Lucis Publishing, Lucis Productions, Lucis Trust Libraries, the New Group of World Servers. Last, but far from least, they maintain the UN meditation room.

And the purpose of these groups? At their core ALL of them exist for one purpose... (Note the capitalization present in the original writings)

"the helping of the Great Ones and the rendering to Them of that intelligent assistance which will make their plans for humanity materialize". (The Externalization of the Hierarchy p. 516)

Note: These words are quoted on the website of The Aquarian Age Community, in an article entitled The Restoration of the Mysteries. [05]

In fact most of these organizations were formed so that Djwhal Khul could find a nucleus of people through whom he could work. The gradual, but sure, infiltration of the government and the church means that there is nothing to hinder the return of pure unmitigated evil.

And if you these beliefs are limited to a few kooks round the globe, think again.

The Aquarian Age Communityis a non-governmental organization (NGO) believes in a world leader, who will usher humanity into a singular spiritual destiny. It is one of many organizations that are preparing the way for the "Christed One", by promoting human consciousness. However, this organization has spread it tentacles far, wide, and very, very deep, working with various major UN groups, and, promoting the reappearance of this world leader from within the UN.

The changing or 'lifting' of global consciousness, echoed and reechoed by countless New Age writers and teachers, can be brought about in several ways, one of the most important of which is occult meditation, especially at the full moon when "closer rapport between humanity and the Hierarchy" is possible. [06]

As it has been for years, the Aquarian Age Community's meditation schedule for 2015, corresponds exactly with the Full Moon phases which, as Alice Bailey taught, are especially fruitful times for spiritual work because an abundance of spiritual energy is available. Note: These meditation meetings used to take place in the United Nations Meditation Room, which, however, is temporarily closed, because the United Nations headquarters complex is being renovated.

The True Identity of the "Hierarchy"One of Alice Bailey's books, Initiation: Human and Solar, gives further evidence of the true nature of this "Hierarchy"...

After the great descent of the spiritual Existences [the Masters] to the earth, the work they planned to do was systematized. [Lucis Press, 1922. pp.32-33.]

Compare this to Revelation 12:9.

And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.

In fact, Theosophy views Lucifer as one of the advanced beings who descended (thus "the fall") from Venus to our planet eons ago, to 'help' man. The descent of these beings was not a fall into sin or disgrace, but rather an act of great sacrifice, as is suggested by the name Lucifer which means 'light-bearer'.

The anti-Christ will not appear to be the anti-Christ at all but, to millions around the world, will be the Christ... the Savior... the Messiah.

Jesus Christ will be acknowledged, but only as an ascended master, a great teacher or perhaps even a prophet of God. In fact, Alice Bailey once wrote that Jesus' spiritual development "made Him the Head of the spiritual Hierarchy, the One who engineered the emergence of the Kingdom of God and established Him as the Master of all the

Masters and the Teacher of angels and of men".

And because Jesus' consciousness "was absolutely at one with the divine Plan; its application on Earth and its goal of establishing the Kingdom of God and the appearance of the fifth kingdom in nature was simply for Him the fulfilling of the law, and to that fulfillment His entire life was and had been geared. [07]

The Christ expressed Himself as Jesus. But it is not Jesus who will be reappearing, but rather Christ, the head of Hierarchy, Who is coming. [08]

Claims that Jesus is the son of God will only be met with wise nodding. Of course he is... aren’t we all sons and daughters of God created in His image. Jesus is God? Of course! Everyone and everything is God.

The Dalai LamaThe previously mentioned "Ascended Masters" are alleged to work from a Shambhala, or the "Hidden Kingdom," centered either in the Gobi Desert, or in a hidden location in Tibet, from where that they are believed to be guiding the evolution of humankind. Note: This is not James Hilton's hidden paradise on Earth, but a spiritual realm.

The Kalachakra is a very complex teaching and practice in Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama, who also believes in and teaches on the Maitreya, has initiated thousands of people into the Kalachakra initiation.

Alexander Berzin, who served as interpreter and secretary to the Dalai Lama for nine years, accompanying him on several world tours [09], informs us that although it is, supposedly, a ritual for world peace, the Kalachakra-Tantra actually prophesies and glorifies a "holy war" (Shambhala war) by Buddhists against non-Buddhists, in which "supremely ferocious warriors will throw down the barbarian hordes" and "eliminate" them.

The Kalachakra prophesies that when the world declines into war and greed, and all is lost, the 25th Kalki king will emerge from Shambhala with a huge army to vanquish "Dark Forces" and usher in a worldwide Golden Age.

And who are these "Dark Forces"? Shri Kalachakra I. 154 says

"Adam, Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mani, Mohammed and the Mahdi" are characterized as the "family of the demonic snakes" and are attributed with characteristics of darkness and deceit. [10].

In the final analysis.. Satan and his legions were thrown out of Heaven two thousand years ago and whether they 'live' in an ethereal kingdom in Tibet or not, the fact remains that they are very much stalking the earth. And, with the aid of possibly millions of humans who have no idea of the dark forces they deal with, will in the near future show up in person under the 'world teacher'.

And much of the church continues to play right into their hands.

The DominionistsDominion or Kingdom theology, which is not a denomination but a belief system, is largely based upon a post-millennial view which is that Christ will return to earth after the thousand year reign of God's kingdom. The church progressively brings righteousness and peace to the world so that Jesus can return. This fits in perfectly with the New Age aim to bring the whole world together in peace and harmony under the one they consider to be the messiah, who will help man achieve these goals.

It is entirely possible that Dominionists, blind to the true calendar of events, will accept the rider on the white horse of Revelation chapter 6:2 as one of their own leaders who is fulfilling their skewed agenda of bringing peace to the world.

The stated purpose of the Dominionists/Manifest Sons of God/ Apostles and Prophets/ Ravening Wolves is that they are to be God's great end-time army, being now prepared to execute His judgments. And, believe it or not, those Christians that do not agree with their dangerous delusions have been identified with the antichrist. Believers who use their brains, check everything by the Word of God, reject any doctrine that is not based solely on Scripture, and dismiss all extra-biblical revelations and visions that do not conform to the Word of God have become the enemy.

Is the Church Prepared?Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8–9)

As Warren Smith says

This is not a time for celebration. This is not a time for the church to be expecting some kind of a special blessing. This is a time to be sober and vigilant.. to watch and pray... to be spiritually prepared... to be warning your family and friends about what is happening in the world.

When storms with the potential to kill are just offshore, reasonable people make reasonable preparations. They don't party in the face of the impending danger. They don't sit on their front porches pretending that nothing is happening. Jesus warned in Scripture that storms would come. He particularly warned about those that would come at the end of time, not to be negative or to scare us, but to prepare us, so that we would not be deceived nor intimidated nor frightened into compromising or questioning our faith.’ [11]

But where exactly is the church that should be preparing for the storms to come? Few apparently take too seriously the "roaring lion" that Peter warned about. For the most part, if you glance outside, you will see the rocking chairs on the front porch moving steadily to and fro.

In spite of God warning us over and over again about various deceptions, Christians are deceived in vast numbers with relentless regularity. The church has already been thoroughly infiltrated by every manner of apostasy possible with the seduction having been surprisingly easy, not accomplished by a direct challenge from another religion, atheism etc. which would have been stoutly repulsed, but insidiously creeping in under far more subtle disguises... Some of which are 'finding', 'drawing nearer' to, or 'experiencing' God, visualization, self-improvement techniques, claiming God's gifts, etc. etc. etc.

While this turmoil comes to a head and the dark minions dig their tentacles further and further into human flesh, our church continues to trot off to their various conferences, watch TBN, read yet another leadership book, indulge in emerging dialogue, and argue about deeply theological topics, such as who Cain married (sarcasm intended)... all the while waiting for a 'Rapture' that isn’t going to happen in time to save them. [See Timing Of, and Reason for, The Rapture]

Actually, on consideration, the situation is worse... far worse. The church that should have been a bulwark against evil has, thanks to apostate leadership and a Biblically illiterate population, latched on to the coat tails of the world and come up with 'christianized' versions of areas strictly forbidden in Scripture. With contemplative prayer, meditation, labyrinths, yoga etc. (See The Modern Church’s Literal Doctrines and Practices of Demons) we have endorsed the invitations and are along for the ride... and what a ride it's going to be. A church expecting revival, rapture and the return of Christ will soon find itself face to face with the antichrist instead.

It is a tragedy of epic proportions that many New Agers are, in a sense, more aware than we are. Although they have a completely erroneous spin on it and are wrong about his true personality, many New Agers seem to know that the antichrist is well on his way... literally breathing down our necks.

Although wrong.. at least they are awake.

End Notes [01] Mashiach: The Messiah. The Messianic Idea in Judaism. http://www.jewfaq.org/mashiach.htm

[02] http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/358868/Maitreya

[03] The Seven Ray Institute. Living the Spirit of the Aquarian Christ: Prepare the Way. April 21-26, 2015 http://www.sevenray.org/conference.html

[04] Don Closson. Millennial Cautions. Probe Ministries

[05] The Restoration of the Mysteries http://www.aquaac.org/about/restore.html'

[06] Meditation Outline. The Full Moon Approach To The Hierarchy. Lucis Trust. http://www.lucistrust.org/en/arcane_school/twelve_spiritual_festivals/meditation_at_the_full_moon/meditation_outline

[10] Alexander Berzin. Eight Questions to the 14th Dalai Lama on the topic of the Kalachakra-Tantra. http://www.trimondi.de/EN/deba03.html.

[11] Reinventing Jesus. The Final Word. http://www.reinventingjesuschrist.com/ Link is no longer active.

The Nationality of the Antichristby Britt Gillette

One of the great mysteries concerning bible prophecy and the end times is the national identity of the Antichrist. This is an important topic because it will eventually aid the last days generation of Christians in the correct identification of the Antichrist. Fortunately, the Bible provides us with several details regarding the nationalistic origins of this sinister personality.

His Roman Nationality

Although much debate surrounds his national identity, the Book of Daniel clearly states that the Antichrist will come from among the people whose armies destroy the Temple.

“A ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple.” Daniel 9:26 (NLT)

The City and the Temple referenced in this passage were destroyed in A.D. 70 by Titus and the Roman legions, but Titus was not the ruler referenced in this verse. Daniel 9:27 describes the ruler as one who will make a seven-year treaty with Israel, put an end to the sacrifices and offerings, and set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration. These are events that will be fulfilled in the life of the Antichrist. According to Daniel, the Antichrist will come from among the people who destroyed the Temple. Therefore, we can be certain that the Antichrist will come from among the Roman people.

However, coming from among the Roman people does not automatically mean that the Antichrist will be of Italian heritage or Roman ethnicity. It simply means he must come from among those people who were part of the Roman Empire at that time. From an ethnic standpoint, this leaves the door open to countless possibilities. The Roman Empire covered most of the known world in its day, and Roman citizenship was extended to many non-Italian peoples. So how do we interpret this passage?

Most likely, Daniel 9:26 is a reference to the power base from which the Antichrist will operate. The Book of Daniel clearly states that the final world empire before the establishment of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom will be a resurrected form of the Roman Empire. In all likelihood, the Antichrist will be the ruler of this revived Roman Empire which will “devour the whole earth,” and in this way, Christians will be able to identify him as the Antichrist.

Is the Antichrist Syrian?Daniel Chapter 8 provides us with further clues in regard to the life and times of the Antichrist. In it, the angel Gabriel explains Daniel’s vision of a Ram and Goat as events relating to the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great. In a claim verified by history, Gabriel states that following the death of Alexander, the empire will be divided into four parts. From one of those four parts, the Antichrist will arise:

“The shaggy male goat represents the king of the Greek Empire. The four prominent horns that replaced the one large horn show that the Greek Empire will break into four sections with four kings, none of them as great as the first. At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people.” Daniel 8:21-24 (NLT)

Daniel Chapter 11 provides an in-depth examination of the history of the breakup Alexander’s empire, describing historical events relating to the King of the North and the King of the South. The latter part of the chapter describes the Antichrist, identifying him with other historical figures who have held the title “King of the North.” This, along with the passage cited above, clearly links the Antichrist to the Northern Kingdom of the divided Greek Empire. This kingdom was ruled by one of Alexander’s generals, Seleucus, who ruled the areas of Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the Antichrist will in some way be linked to this geographic area of the Middle East.

Isaiah Chapter 10In addition to Daniel 8, the prophet Isaiah also offers some interesting insight concerning a “king of Assyria”:

“After the Lord has used the king of Assyria to accomplish his purposes in Jerusalem, he will turn against the king of Assyria and punish him – for he is proud and arrogant. He boasts, ‘By my own power and wisdom I have won these wars. By my own strength I have captured many lands, destroyed their kings, and carried off their treasures. By my greatness I have robbed their nests of riches and gathered up kingdoms as a farmer gathers eggs. No one can even flap a wing against me or utter a peep of protest.” Isaiah 10:12-14 (NLT)

Although not directly identified by Isaiah, this king of Assyria bears a striking resemblance to the Antichrist. Both the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation describe the Antichrist as proud and arrogant, boasting arrogantly and blaspheming God Himself. His boast that “no one can even flap a wing against me or utter a peep of protest” also fits the description of the Antichrist as given in the Book of Revelation:

“They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they worshiped the beast. ‘Is there anyone as great as the beast?’ they exclaimed. ‘Who is able to fight against him?’” Revelation 13:4 (NLT)

Isaiah 10, coupled with Daniel 8, lends support to the idea that the Antichrist will somehow be connected to political power in this region of the world.

Is the Antichrist Jewish?Is the Antichrist Jewish? Although there is no definitive answer, two Bible verses provide us with good reason to believe he will be. The first appears in the Book of Genesis when God prophesies the coming of Israel’s Messiah and Satan’s Antichrist.

“From now on, you and the woman will be enemies, and your offspring and her offspring will be enemies. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15 (NLT)

Later on, when Jacob is blessing his sons, he makes this prophecy about Dan:

“Dan will govern his people like any other tribe in Israel. He will be a snake beside the road, a poisonous viper along the path, that bites the horse’s heels so the rider is thrown off.” Genesis 49:16-17 (NLT)

This reference to a serpent striking a heel may indicate that the Antichrist will be a Jew from the tribe of Dan, but it isn’t certain and many reasonable people are divided on this issue.

In addition to this reference to the tribe of Dan, the Book of Daniel points out that the Antichrist will worship himself above all else:

“Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.” Daniel 11:37 (KJV)

This passage is often referenced by those who believe the Antichrist will be of Jewish heritage. The fact that he will have no regard “for the God of his fathers” is viewed as a reference to the monotheistic God of the Jews. Adding further fuel to speculation that the Antichrist might be Jewish is the following passage from the Book of Revelation:

“Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, and he spoke with the voice of a dragon.” Revelation 13:11 (NLT)

This verse states that the Antichrist will “come up out of the earth,” a biblical phrase often associated with the promised land and the Jewish people. Throughout the Old Testament, the earth is used as a symbol for Israel, while the sea is used as a symbol for the Gentile peoples:

“And now in my vision I saw beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God.” Revelation 13:1 (NLT)

The verse above is a reference to the Antichrist’s kingdom, which as stated before, will be a revived form of the Roman Empire – thus emerging from among the Gentile people. But all the authority of this kingdom will be exercised by “the beast from the earth” referenced in Revelation 13:11:

“He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and those who belong to this world to worship the first beast, who death-wound had been healed.” Revelation 13:12 (NLT)

The first beast, whose “death-wound had been healed,” is the revived Roman Empire. The Book of Daniel clearly states that this world empire will re-emerge in the last days, thus becoming healed of its mortal wound. But the one who rules it will “come up out of the earth.” Could this be a reference to the Antichrist’s Jewish heritage?

Will the Jews Accept the Antichrist as Messiah?All the speculation surrounding the Antichrist’s possible Jewish heritage lends itself to another question: Will the Jews accept the Antichrist as their Messiah? Many believe that the following statement by Jesus is really a prophecy that the Jewish people will accept the Antichrist as their Messiah:

“I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” John 5:43 (KJV)

The Antichrist would have to be Jewish in order to be accepted by Israel as the Messiah. Many believe this scripture points to a specific person in the future who will “come in his own name” and be accepted as the Redeemer of Israel.

ConclusionIt is an absolute certainty that the Antichrist will arrive on the world scene as the ruler of a revived Roman empire. However, it is less certain whether or not he will be of actual Italian descent or some other ethnic background. Several scriptures offer the possibility that he could be Assyrian, Greek, or Jewish. But none of them offer us the definitive statement contained in Daniel 9:26.

So how do we rectify these seemingly contradictory prophecies concerning the Antichrist’s nationality? Is he Roman? Italian? Jewish? Assyrian? Greek? He doesn’t necessarily have to be exclusively one or another. He could be an Assyrian Jew born and raised in Italy, or any number of possible combinations. We don’t know for certain, but history indicates that each of these prophecies will be harmonized when the Antichrist finally appears.

Two thousand years ago, the seemingly contradictory prophecies of the first coming of the Messiah were all harmonized in the life of Jesus Christ who was a Nazarene born in Bethlehem who came out of Egypt. With the benefit of hindsight, we can see how this was possible, but for the Jewish scholars who lived before the birth and ministry of Jesus, these prophecies were a topic of intense debate. Would the Messiah come from Nazareth, Bethlehem, or Egypt? The answer, of course, was all three.

In similar fashion, a debate continues today in regard to the prophecies of the Antichrist and his national identity. But no matter how much we speculate on the ultimate meaning of the scriptures, we won’t know the absolute truth until God’s appointed time. As such, it is wise to study these prophecies and teach them to others, so that Christians of the Antichrist’s generation will be able to positively identify him based on sound Scriptural evidence.

The Lessons of Hitler’s Amazing Rise To Power!"Five years prior to Adolf Hitler becoming German Chancellor the National Socialists were considered almost a joke, rejected by 97% of German voters..."

How was it possible for Adolf Hitler to achieve power in Germany so suddenly?

In the 1928 German Election the Nazi Party only achieved 2.6% of the national vote, this means that an amazing 97% of Germans clearly did not want Hitler to be their Chancellor. The Nazis were looked upon as a fringe party and were almost a joke – yet just five years later Hitler was Chancellor of Germany! How could this have happened?

The liberal Weimar government of 1919-1931 were certainly committed to democracy, unfortunately they were also weak, often rudderless and they presided over widespread and unprecedented corruption right across German life. Being a liberal democracy, widespread corruption did not unduly worry the Weimar architects but it worried and upset many German people who longed for a return to a respect for law and order right across the land and right across German life. Of course, as we know, it was a major economic crisis which finally opened the door for Hitler. When Weimar failed, people did not want another liberal democracy which they blamed for the moral confusion and chaos of German life.

Germany had been greatly affected by the repercussions of the 1929 Wall Street Crash. In 1931, five major German banks crashed. From its former position of being a great nation Germany actually became - by far - the weakest nation in Europe and actually weaker than most African countries!! Confusion and chaos was now no longer simply of a moral nature but was of a devastating economic sort which saw thousands of unemployed men forming lines to receive a tiny handout which could never be enough to feed their families. Many committed suicide, others simply abandoned their families. Panic gripped thousands of Germans, and they cried out for a strong leader who could lead them out of this chaos!

Both communists and National Socialists prospered in this climate in which the common people powerfully rejected the whole concept of a liberal democracy.

In the 1932 election campaign Hitler put himself forward as the strong and decisive leader which the Germans had been longing for. As many have commented, all the Nazi Party really offered was order, discipline and authority since they had not drawn up any detailed policies – however, it was indeed the order, discipline and authority which the Germans were longing and craving for! Moreover the Nazis made it clear that, when elected, they would form a dictatorship – not a democracy, but this, again, was exactly what the people wanted!

So it was economic catastrophe which turned the Nazis from a party which 97% of Germans had rejected in 1928 to a major party just 4-5 years later. In 1932 the Nazis had 37% of the vote - the biggest single German party. German leader Hindenburg originally did not want Hitler to be chancellor because he believed that he would bring even more chaos. It was thousands of bankers and businessmen who petitioned for Hitler to become chancellor. They longed for stability, security and a return of confidence to German business life and saw Hitler as the strict no-nonsense disciplinarian who could provide it. The only strong radical alternative to Hitler were the communists who were obviously absolute anathema to bankers and businessmen!

Many more moderate German conservatives thought they would be able to control Hitler when he went into government through the processes of parliament, but what nobody had accounted for was National Socialism's zeal in changing laws and bringing in new laws to suit themselves and to radically change German life. There is no doubt that Hitler did stabilise all of German life and brought new economic confidence to the ravaged land. For this achievement ordinary Germans wholeheartedly threw themselves behind Hitler and the Nazis.

What is the lesson of all this?

Five years prior to Adolf Hitler becoming German Chancellor the National Socialists were considered almost a joke, rejected by 97% of German voters, but when economic disaster struck, the people – in their tens of thousands – simply wanted a strong leader amidst a sea of watery ineffectual liberals! They were prepared to accept some really dangerous and offensive policies just in order to get a strong and dynamic leader elected - We should never think that this could never happen again! It has been said that those who refuse to learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them.

Modern Britain, Europe and much of north America is being paralyzed by politically-correct permissive liberals. Concerns about "civil liberties" with its desire to protect criminals and illegal immigrants and the push to eradicate the last vestiges of censorship and national pride are being aggressively pushed forward by people who were encouraged and persuaded to revere arch-atheists Marx, Freud and Nietzsche in the universities of the 1960s-1980s. The trend has been quietly going on and growing for several years and this will surely eventually lead to a powerful right-wing backlash as ordinary people grow increasingly sickened at the moral corruption and erosion of former strongly Christian-influenced standards! The moral weakness of liberal governance means that parents are no longer even allowed to impose their own standards in bringing up their own children. If the West should hit a major economic crisis which should lead to thousands or even possibly millions losing their sources of income, a huge backlash will be certain indeed – at such a time and in such a climate, a powerful right wing leader will be sought. This could be extremely dangerous for the whole world and could even lead to global conflict.......

May I encourage all to stand up against “liberal values” right now.? Don't accept them! They are destroying great nations from within - just as Rome and Greece were eventually destroyed from within. [Also See When Nations Die]